New York marks 250th anniversary with focus on 1776 events, not Trump's style

New York City is marking the 250th anniversary of American independence not with the fanfare planned for Washington D.C., but by delving into the specific events of July 9, 1776. Five days after the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, General George Washington ordered it read publicly in New York. The reading ignited an enthusiastic, even violent, public reaction, leading a group to tear down a gilded statue of King George III in Bowling Green. The statue's head was severed and displayed at a tavern, while the rest was melted down for musket balls used against the British.

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It was the biggest invasion we have ever experienced. 30,000 British soldiers landed not far from here. And yet, it is not talked about much.

This historical act of defiance against monarchical rule resonates with contemporary movements, such as the "No Kings" protest movement against Donald Trump. While Washington D.C. anticipates a MAGA-centric celebration, New York is focusing on the historical lead-up to the Battle of Brooklyn, one of the Revolutionary War's most dramatic engagements. The battle took place near a Brooklyn backyard where Norman Goben, a retiree, is completing a large mural depicting the conflict.

Goben notes the battle's scale, with 30,000 British soldiers landing nearby, yet laments its relative obscurity. "Maybe it's because we lost, and nobody loves a loser," he says, drawing a parallel to modern-day figures who disdain losing. Despite the tactical defeat, the Battle of Brooklyn saw a crucial stand by the "Maryland 400," a company of a few hundred men who held off British forces, allowing thousands of American troops to retreat across the East River. The soldiers who sacrificed their lives are believed to be buried near Goben's mural.

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Maybe it's because we lost, and nobody loves a loser.

Enthusiasts like Goben, who has sewn his own dark blue Revolutionary Army uniform, are preparing to reenact the battle later this summer. He explains the uniform's colors were chosen by George Washington to contrast with the British red. Nearby, The Old Stone House, a 1700s building, served as a British fortification during the battle, underscoring the historical significance of the area.

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I am a private soldier in the revolutionary army. It was George Washington who decided the colors of the uniforms, they were to be the opposite of the English, who were red with blue lapels.